Bluesky faces backlash over Public Web Interface launch, responds with Opt-ut Tool

The decentralized alternative to X, Bluesky, has faced backlash from users over its plans to launch a 'public web interface' on December 18, which would make platform posts accessible to all people, even if they don't have an app invitation as it has been until now.

Users have expressed disapproval as this decision comes before the introduction of an option to make their accounts private. Many believe the platform should focus on privacy options first and then make Bluesky public second. This is mainly because up to this point, the platform remains in a closed beta phase and is accessible only via invites, giving users a sense of privacy that they do not want to see altered.

In response to the criticism, Bluesky has chosen to incorporate an opt-out tool in the upcoming release, removing the public web view for those who wish to do so. However, this tool only impacts the logged-out view users, and cannot be enforced on third-party apps, thus underlining the limits of this solution. The company has also reiterated that posts, profiles, and likes are public data, a statement that has led to users, again, demanding more privacy features.